Bearing material and method of making same



Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED K. BEZZENBERGEB, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND GRAPHITE BRONZE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COItIORATION OF OHIO.

BEARING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

No Drawing.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to hearing material and the method of making same, is particularly directed to The following description sets forth in detail one method and one product exemplifying my invention, such disclosed procedure and product constituting, however, but one of various applications of the principle of my invention.

My improved process is based upon the observation that graphite when suspended in a solution in a very finely divided or collodial condition will plate upon an electrode upon the passage ofa current th-rough'the solution, in the same way as a metal will plate out of such a solution under similar conditions. I make a solution consisting of copper sulphate made acid with the addition of sulphuric acid, and to this solution I add a smaH amount of glue and a small amount of finel divided graphite. A solution which I ave foundgives a successful resultconsists of seven ounces of sulphuric acid, one ounce of glue and a quarter of an ounce of very finely divided graphite in about one gallon of water.

This plating bath is operated in the usual way, the cathode upon which the copper is deposited being formed of wax, and it may either be of large size so that the deposited sheets may be cut off and then rolled and formed into hearings, or the cathode ma itself be a mold upon which the material wi 1 plate in the form of a bearing. In the latter event the outer surface of the plated bearing ma be somewhat rough and may have to be rol ed or machined to smooth it sufficiently for use. In either case the surface of the cathode may first be dusted over or brushed with very finely powdered graphite which Application filed Mai ch27, 1922. Serial N'o. 547,303.

helps in starting the plating and also gives a very thin layer of graphite dust on the inside of either the bearing or the strip of metal which is to be formed into bearings, as the case may be.

Electrically deposited copper is quite hard and has a tensile strength of from 50,000 to 60,000 pounds per square inch so that it fulfills the requirement of good bearing metal in that it is tough and also hard. The graphite is deposited uniformly throughout the copper in a suflicient amount to comletely coat an shaft operating in-"such a caring, and t is coating of the shaft is assisted by the initial layer of graphite dust which is on the inner surface of the bearing or plate as a result of the graphite being dusted over the surface of the cathode.

If the composition is plated on to large mandrels it may then be rolled into relatively thin sheets which will smooth both 7 surfaces of the metal, and will further increase the hardness and temper,the hardness of rolled deposited metal being about on Brinell scale. One advanta e of the present method is that relative y cheap scrap metal may be used since only the pure metal will be deposited at the electrode, and this metal saving offsets to a large extent the cost of electroplating and any additional handling requirement necessary.

The present method may of course be used to produce the material described for purposes other than bearing uses. For example, the present composition produced by my improved method may be advantageously used for brushes for electrical'machines and for other purposes which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in various arts. It is understood that if desired for certain purposes a backing of pure metal may be plated outside of the composition at the close of the plating operation.

Other forms may be employed embodfying the features of my invention insteado the one here explained, change being made in the 100 form or construction, provided the elements stated'by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by my preferred method or by others embodymg steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention graphite in a uniformly distributed condition upon the cathode in such solution.

3. In a method of making a self-lubricating bearingmaterial, the steps which consist in passing a current through an acid solution of copper sulphate containing a very small amount of finely divided graphite in suspen sion and thereby depositing uniformly distributed copper and graphite upon the oathode in such solution.

Signed by me, this 23rd day of March, 1922.

FRED K. BEZZENBERGER 

